Iran does not allow NATO jets to pass its airspace

Tehran has informed International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that it won't allow certain aircraft to pass through its airspace.

Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said that NATO aircraft are among those that don't have permission to enter Iran's airspace, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Jan. 5.

"Military and extra-regional aircraft are not allowed to pass through Iran, either," he added.

Esmaili went on to note that Iran forced an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) aircraft to land in Bandar Abbas airport in September, 2014.

"The plane was carrying around 100 American soldiers. At first the pilot tried to trick us by saying that it was a civil plane, but we found out the truth and forced it to land on Iranian soil," he noted.

Deputy CEO for Aeronautical Operations at Iran Airports Company (IAC) Ebrahim Shoushtari said on Aug. 4 that the country's airspace has the capacity to receive over 750 passing flights each day.

Shoushtari said earlier that, following the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s request, Iran declared readiness to admit passing flights which intend to change their route and use Iran's aerial space.